I Just Saw ‘The Piano Lesson’ & I Did *Not* Expect It to Hit This Close to Home

For context, I do not have a controversial family heirloom lying around in my home, but I can definitely speak to the complicated sibling dynamics. In fact, when I saw these two go head to head over that piano and fuss over their parents, I vividly recalled an argument with my own brother as we tried to navigate our father's illness. Much like these two characters, my brother and I were as stubborn as ever, letting our emotions boil over as we traded insults. And while I've seen my fair share of sibling fights on screen, the dynamic between this pair in particular felt so authentic and bizarrely accurate to some of my own experiences.

Another interesting twist? I could see myself in both Boy Willie and Berniece. The latter, because I completely understand what it’s like to cling to meaningful pieces that I never use, just for the sake of honoring my loved ones. For Berniece, it's a stunning piano carved by her father—a former slave who gave up his life to save it. And while it literally bears the image of her ancestors, it also carries the ghosts of a dark and traumatic past. As for Boy Willie, I can understand his burning desire to sell it and invest in a better future for the family. After losing my father, there were several times when I contemplated convincing my family to sell his music collection, which remains untouched to this day. But then, I'd consider how much it meant to my father to build that collection and the pride he took in it.

So yes, I understand where both of them are coming from. And yes, I still have moments where I wonder if I'm rightly honoring my father's memory by holding onto what he valued most instead of trading it in for something more valuable that benefits the family. (I can't say that it's the same as housing an heirloom that represents the ripple effects of slavery, but still, the parallels are there.)

I won't say that this movie offered an easy answer to this dilemma, but seeing this play out on screen felt almost therapeutic. Like a reminder that I'm not the only one who deals with situations like this. Major kudos to Washington and his family for making the drama film I didn't know I needed.

The Piano Lesson is filled with strong performances and memorable scenes, but it's more than a star-studded drama. It poses valid questions about what it means to honor one's legacy while exploring important themes like grief, the American Dream, complex family dynamics and the effects of slavery.

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